Safari, (n) : An expedition to observe animals in their natural habitat. This site is a 'safari' of international news, development theory, and the natural world. Written by R. Turner Shaw.

Police Corruption in Brazil

In a rapidly developing nation like Brazil, stories such as this seem to be dragging the nation backwards. 60 police officers working shanty towns have been arrested in Rio de Janeiro for, “receiving regular payments from drug dealers to turn a blind eye to their activities.” The policemen have also been accused of selling weapons to gangs, as well as kidnapping for ransom when bribes were not paid out. Approaching the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, authorities of Brazil have been trying to clean up Rio de Janeiro as it becomes a showcase to the world, and the discovery of a corruption scheme such as this is a reminder that although Brazil has developed into a powerful and influential economy, (the 2nd largest in the Americas and the 7th largest in the world), there remain scars from a pre-development past.